Aquaplane



Nov. 19, 192'9 f N. s. HARTER 1,736,156

AQUAPLANE Filed may i9. 1927 y Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED stares MEMS@ NOAH S. HARTER, 0F WAUKEGAN, ILLINOS, ASSIGNOR T0 KING- BOAT COMPANY, A

COPARTNERSHIP CONSISTING OFQNAH S. HARTER, ERNEST H. BEAUBIEN, HARRY CHAPMAN, AND WALTER BILHARS AQUAPLANE Application filled May 19,

This invention relates to improvements in aquaplanes, surf boards, rafts, and the like, and more particularly toa collapsible and foldable aquaplane, automatically inflatable, and adapted to travel with less water resistance and 'more stability than devices of this character heretofore known or now in use.

Previously known devices of the character of this invention have been bulky, diflicult to carry or pack away, and, if inflatable, were only soV by air from the lungs'or by small pumps. Furthermore, the well knowntypes of sea sleds are substantially flat, subject to an undesirable amount of water .resistance when in use, and tend to bounce over ythe waves in rough manner instead of riding smoothly, whereby they may only be ridden with great difficulty or` by an experienced rider.

With these objections in view, it is accordingly an object'of this invention to provide arl;i automatically inflatable aquaplane or the li e. 'Y

Another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible and foldable aquaplane or the like, whereby the same may be adjusted to a compact form occupying a minimum space.

Another object of this invention is to provide a surf board or the like, constructed of etremely light material and easily transporta 1e. Still another object of this invention is to y provide an adjustable aquaplane or the like adapted for use in eithera flat or Vv-shaped form.

A further object of this inventionris to provide a surf board or the like having substantially a V-shape, whereby the same is adapted to ride smoothly and with little water resistance. A j l A still further object of this invention is to provide a surf boardV or the "like adapted to be adjusted to different `angularities of cross-section while in use by the rider thereon.

Other and further important obj ects of this invention will be apparent from the.' disclosures in the specification andthe accompanying drawings.V j Y l 'This invention (in a preferred form) is 1927. serial No. 192,587.

illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings: Y j Figure 1 isa top plan view of a device embodying principles ofthe present invention.v l f Figure 2 isan enlarged end View of the device taken from the right of Figure 1. j Figurel 3 is an enlarged elevationalview of a part of the device with aportion of the casing broken away. .f Y i f Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical' sectional view taken substantially alongline lV-IV of Figure 3. j l

Figure 5 is an'enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of the device. 'Y i Figure 6 is a sectional` view of a portion of the device. ,I

As shown on vthe drawings :1 j In the illustratedembodiment of this invention there is shown an aquaplane or surf board 1, composed of a pair of collapsible members 2 and 3, substantially alike, secured together by the flexible hinges 4 thereby providing portions upwardly .diverging from the center line of the device. Each of the mem- HARPER, A. r. p

bers 2 and3'i's'provided with a short angle .i

iron 5 to whichI is secured a ring 6, and attached to the rings 6 are tow lines 7 and a hand line 8 for a rider to grasp and thereby steady himself. j

On thev bottom of the member 2 adjacent i its inner edge there is secured a strip 9 of anydesired strong, resilient material, and a similar strip 10 is secured in a similar manner to the member 3. 'lhese Vstrips are perforated and provided with eyelets 11 to `accommodate a lacing 12. As shown in Figure 2 whenthe device is'ready for use the sides are in angular relation ,to each other and an inverted V notch` both feet adjacent the junction point l.of theAV members 2 and 3, the V notch 13 will be widened due to the riders weight, the resilient strips 9 and`10 permitting this widening of 1 i the notch Vand the angularrelation between` the members 2 and 3 will thereby become more acute. Conversely, if the rider` stands with Y his feet adjacent the outer edges of the surf board, the notch 13 will be substantially closed and the angle outlined by the members 2 and 3 will become very obtuse or,if desired, may

l l disappear entirely. `Gbviously, if so desired,

the sea sled 1 may be used with both members in a perfectly flat condition.

Since the members 2 and 3 are alike in internal construction, for the purpose of brev` ity, only one will be described. The internal structure of e-ach of these members is sub- Y stantially the same as that ,dSClosedin co-pending application for collapsible air chamber seat,v filed May 19, 1927, Serial No.

Sectionr3 (section 2 being identical there to) comprises a top board 14 and a bottom board 15 in spaced relation thereto, around .which'boards and enclosing the same is a casing or covering 16 which is preferably of l Y canvas so treated as to be waterproof. It is to be vnoted that the topboard 14 extendsv forwardly, at the front ends of the section 3, beyondV the bottom board 15, and the covering 16 l provides a substantially upwardly arced surface, whichconstruction effectively prevents the sea sled from digging into the water whenl in use. As shown in Figure3,

the Vcovering 16 provides side walls and end walls for an air chamber 17 between the top and bottom boards 14 and 15, respectively,

- To maintain the top and bottomboards in spaced relationship against pressure exerted n secured to the bottom board 15 at 23.- A pull cord 24 is attached to the Vtension strip 22 anda second pull cord 25is attached to the opposite end of thev connecting strip 21. These pull cords may be of any desired mat`e Y rial but are preferably narrow vstrips of dou-A Y ble-thickness' or eXtra-heavy canvas.- -Y A pair of apertures 26 are provided through theA covering 16 and top board 14.

Within these apertures 26, eachL of which is adjacent either end'of. the section 3, there VVare provided flanges 27 lwhichy are adapted forthe insertion therein ofstop plugs 28 and 29, respectively. Since the stop plugs 28 and V29 andtheir corresponding Lflanges 27 fare identical, yfor the purpose Vof brevity, Y jonly stopplug28 and one of the flanges 27 willbe described herein.- Flange 27 is re-,r

cessed as shown'at 27a and the bottom of the recess is provided with an inwardly extending portion30 which in turn is provided with inwardly extending tongues 31 diametrically opposed Vto each other `and of substantially one-fourth the circumference of an aperture 32 through the portion 30 of the flange.

The stop plug 28 comprises a metal disc 33 having integral upwardly projecting portions 434 thereon which portions arefdiametrically opposed to each other and provide gripping means for manipulating the plug. In juxtaposed relationship to the disc 33 there is provided a disc gasket 35, preferably of rubber, against'the underside of which is secured a second metal disc 36 provided with downwardly inclined portions37 thereon of substantially one-fourth thecircumference of the disc 36 in length and adapted to engage vundereneath the inwardly projectingy por- Y tions 31 of the flange 27 jto insure al watert-ight joint between the plug and flange. The

, pull cord 24 isattached to` the under side of the stop plug 28 b v the rivet 38 whichalso holds the various partsl of the` plug28 together, and in similar mannergthe-pull cord 25 is secured to the stop plug r29. Y

In the operation of the section 3, assuming it is desired to deflate. o ry collapse the same from its inflated position shown in Figure 3,

stop plug 28 is removed andthe pull cord 24 is given a slight tug or jerk thereby actuating all of the braces `18 which `will pivot within the straps 20y and assume a horizontal posi.- tion. Due to the weight of the Atop board l14, flexible covering 16`will cave in at the sides and ends and the device will yassume the comfy .pact form shown'by the dotted lines in Figure 3, the air cont-ained within the chamber 17 passing: outwardly through the, aperture left by the removalof the plug 28 f The pull cord 24 may then be Vpushed back in the chamV ber17 and the stop plug 28 inserted in the flange 27. Y Y ,e

To infiate the device from its compact form, stop plug 29 is removed and thepull cord 25 is actuated by a slight tug or jerk'thereby elevating the brace rodsj18 which simultaneously force the. top board 14 upwardly.V The ai-r chamber.A 17 isautomatically filled-.simul-` taneonsly with this operation by kair passing c through the opening leftfby the removalof thestop plug 29. "Itfisto be notedtha'tmthe brace rods when in their upright position are inclined slightly'V from the vertical towards the pull cordf25, further inclination of the p rodsl being preventedby the tension @strip 22.

`Due to the inclined position vof therods and this tension strip great pressure m'aybe exl erted on the top board ,14;without`fcaus'ing the device to collapse. After thedevice is in inated position7 asshown by the fulllinesin Figure 3, the-pull cord 25 is pushed "back into theV chamber 17 and stop. plug 29is' replaced thereby ynoviding a Vwater-tighti'nfiatedniem-V i ber. The member v2, of course, is identicalrin structure and operation with the member 3.

In operating the device as a whole, assuming 1t is desired to fold the same into 1ts compact form from its operative position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the members 2 and 3 are deflated as previously described, the lacing 12 is removed and member 2 thrown over on member 3 or vice versa) and both members secured in this position by tying the lace 12 there-around. The device will now be in a fiat compact form which is easily carried or packed away in a minimum space. When it is desired to again use the device, lacing 12 is unetied, the device thrown open in the position shown in Figure 1, members2 and 3 inflated, and the strips 9 and 10 are laced together as shown in Figure 5.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided an aquaplane of novel construction, with obvious utility and advantages over previously known devices of thischaracter. rIhe device described herein due to the angular relation between the sides will ride smoothly with little water resistance, and does not necessitate an experienced rider but vpermits a novice to enjoy the same. Moreover, the device disclosed herein is more stable than previously known devices of this character since the rider may elevate either foot or stand with both feet on one half of the device Without overturning the same. Further, the device is of` few parts and simple construction, very durable, and economical'to manufacture.

Iam aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and I, therefore, do notpurpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. An aquaplane comprising a plurality of members hinged together on one side, and resiliently secured together on the opposite side.

2. In a device of the class described, a pair lof angularly related members hingedly secured together on one side, and resilient means holding said members together on the other side, said means permitting variations in the angular relation between said members.

3. In an aquaplane, a pair of members, flexible hinges securing said members together on one side, a strip on the opposite side of each of said members, and lacing engaging said strips. l

4:. In a surf board, a pair of collapsible members angularly related to each other, said Vmembers hinged together lon one side and resiliently secured together on the other side, each of said members comprising a top board, a bottom board, and pivoted supporting means therebetween.

In'ian aquaplane, a pair of collapsible members hinged*together,l each of said memberscomprising a flexible casing, a pair of juxtaposed. members within said casing, a plurality of pivoted supports'bet-ween 'said second mentioned members, and means for actuating said supports simultaneously.

6. In a device of the class described, apair` of 'angularly related members secured to-v gether, each of said members comprising ar water-proof casing, a pair .of spacedV boards thereima plurality of pivotally mounted braces between said boardsand secured to one of said boards, a strip interconnecting said braces-'means for limiting the. pivotal movement of saidV braces, a pull cord connected to said means, anda pull cord 'connected to said interconnecting strip.

7 In a device of the class described, a pair ofmembers secured together, lsaid members being'foldable upon each other, each of said members comprising a casing having an'air chamber therein, a top board, a bottom board', braces between said boards, and means for simultaneously'actuating said braces, said chambers being automatically inflated or de` iiated concurrently with vthe actuation of said braces. g

8. In an equaplane or the like, a pairof co1- lapsible air chamber. members hingedly and resiliently secured together, each ofxsaid members Vhaving a .pair of apertures therein and comprising la casing, a pair of juxtaposed members therein, interconnected braces pivotally mountedl between said juxtaposed members, Ymeans for limiting. the` pivotal movement of said braces, vstop plugs removably engaged in said apertures, and a pair of pull. cords 'for Vactuating said braces. l

9. In a device of the class described, a plurality of members adjustably secured together, each of said members comprising a casing, a top board, a bottomlboard, and supu i porting means within said casing, said top board extending forwardly beyond said botpermit said casing to arc upfor expanding the same, and means for actu.V

ating said first mentioned means, saidmemf bers being automatically lille'd with'air s'imulP taneously with the actuationV of said second mentioned means.

12. In a device of the character described#VVV afpairof collapsible members flexibly con- 4 i Y y1,736,156

' nected, each of said members including a casing, means within said casing for holding the same expanded, and means for actuating said first mentioned means to collapse said x -5 casing, said second mentioned means permitting the automatic expulsion of air from said casing simultaneously with the collapsing thereof.' Y Y 13. In a device of the class described, a

10 plurality of angularly related collapsible members, resilient means for connecting said members, said means permitting the angular relation between said members to be varied. Y

o 14. As an article of manufacture, an aqua- I5 plane includinga Vplurality of members, and

" means connecting said members in upwardly ydiverging relationship.- n

15. As an article of manufacture, an aquay plane including a pluralit lof members,

V'20 means connecting saidl mem ers in angular relationship, said means permitting said relationship to be Varied at will by pressure properly applied to the top of said aqua- Y plane; 25 16. As an article of manufacture, an aquavplane including a pair of .collapsible buoy- V ant members, said members being foldable 011e upon the other when collapsed, and means for resilientlyconnecting said Ymembers in la()Y angular relationship when said aquaplane is adjusted for. use. o o Y 17. As an articleof manufacture, an aquaplane having a center line and equal ortions upwardly diverging therefrom kto ai in bal- '.--.35 ancing said aquaplane. v

:In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Waukegan, Lake County,

n1. i Y .y NOAH s. HARTER. 

